Here at Outrun Gravity, there is nothing we love more than embracing an experience as an opportunity to grow. We provided our community with an immersive event where they could challenge themselves to achieve their greatest potential, all while exploring the beauty of our own city.

We created a local retreat here in Bethesda, MD, that targeted our three key pillars of wellness: fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness.

Fitness

It wouldn’t be an OG event without the chance to get your body moving, so to set the tone for our day, we started our retreat by meeting at the studio for an hour-long full-body workout. Our fitness class had an amazing turnout with approximately 25 in-person and 15 virtual participants who showed up with a fierce attitude.

For the first 30 minutes, our instructor Jen Blackburn led the class through bodyweight exercises and Tabata that left our bodies burning and hearts racing. To kick it up a notch, during the last 30 minutes, Coach Courtney Cornwall led the class through boxing and core exercises, making sure we effectively targeted all of our key muscles.

Nutrition

After achieving the sweet burn of a completed workout, it was the perfect time for the class to enjoy a short rest as they indulge in our display of healthy refreshments. We provided a colorful selection of smoothies and acai bowls, and they were just as delicious as they were healthy! By turning to nutrient-dense food as a recovery meal, our bodies felt refueled and ready for our next challenge of the day: our hike.

Outdoors

There are so many health benefits of immersing yourself in nature, so for the final segment of our day retreat, we carpooled the quick 15-minute drive or met at Billy Goat Trail. Although the hike was only two miles, the terrain was a combination of rock scrambles that required physical coordination and focus to climb up and over. We embraced the challenge with a smile, all excited to admire the gorgeous views of the water and trees (even though there weren’t any leaves during this time of year!).

Mind

Halfway through our hike, we found a rest area to pause and reconnect with the self through a ten-minute guided meditation. Through this visualization exercise, participants were encouraged to reflect on their experience and express gratitude for the opportunity to challenge their bodies and mind while immersed in a stunning natural location. After this mindful exercise, there was a noticeable positive shift in the energy that stuck with the group throughout the whole return trip.

The environment around us can be one of life’s greatest teachers, but we wanted to prove that you don’t need to travel across to world to learn these lessons. Our local retreats through Outrun Gravity allow community members to reach their health and wellness goals in the context of being grateful for where we are in the world right now. To get involved in our next retreat, check out Outrun Gravity for all the details.